Otay Mesa, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom today revealed plans for a new project aimed at boosting economic growth and enhancing trade between California and Mexico. Construction will begin to establish the new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry in San Diego, California, contributing to the region’s continued prosperity.

In addition, Governor Newsom introduced a new strategic initiative by the California National Guard (CalGuard) to bolster border security. This move complements the state's ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking by targeting the flow of weapons and cash fueling cartel operations, a key factor driving migration.

Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized, "This new port-of-entry will strengthen California’s world-leading economy, create jobs, and support regional communities through trade. At the same time, we’re further stepping up border security with a new CalGuard initiative targeting the cash and weapons that fuel cartel violence, complementing our successful efforts to block fentanyl from entering our state. California is proving that we can build strong international partnerships with Mexico — our top trading partner — to grow our economy and create jobs while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our communities."

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas added, "The new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry is an example of the strong partnership between the Biden-Harris Administration, the Government of Mexico, and the State of California to enhance our international trade and economic vitality, while ensuring our border security."

Jerry Sanders, President & CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, also praised the initiative: "It is vital that we support critical projects such as the Otay Mesa East Land Port of Entry and we look forward to continued partnership with Governor Newsom and his team to advance economic prosperity and create jobs in our region."

Why This Matters

The new port of entry will help mitigate delays at southern border entry points, expediting the flow of commercial goods essential to California’s economy. The trade relationship between California and Mexico is a major contributor to the state’s success. In 2023, trade at California’s land ports with Mexico was valued at over $88 billion, and delays at these ports have been estimated to cost the U.S. and Mexican economies approximately $3.4 billion annually and result in the loss of 88,000 jobs.

“The California-Baja California region is the epicenter for the exchange of culture and commerce for California, the U.S. and Mexico,” said Toks Omishakin, California State Transportation Agency Secretary. "Improving goods movement capacity at the border will provide immediate economic benefits and reduce air pollution for the entire Tijuana-San Diego region and beyond."

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“The California National Guard continues to stand as trailblazers in the fight against fentanyl,” said Major General Matthew Beevers, Adjutant General of CalGuard. “Our interagency partnerships and support to law enforcement aims to protect our communities and disrupt transnational criminal organizations activity.”

How This Helps Californians

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The new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry will improve the efficiency of trade between the U.S. and Mexico, reducing wait times, lowering costs for California consumers, and creating jobs. It will also complement Governor Newsom’s CalGuard initiative to enhance public safety by targeting the illegal flow of guns, cash, and drugs fueling cartel violence.

Boosting California’s Economy

Mexico is California’s top export market, purchasing $33.3 billion in products annually, and is the second-largest source of imports for the state, totaling $61.5 billion. In 2023, Mexico surpassed China as the U.S.'s largest trade partner.

Investing in Infrastructure

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The new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry is part of Governor Newsom’s infrastructure expansion plan, with a $480 million investment to prepare for its completion, in addition to a $140 million TCEP grant. The port is expected to significantly reduce congestion at the border, which currently causes wait times of over three hours for trucks and cars.

Strengthening Border Security

Governor Newsom has increased resources for border security, particularly targeting drug trafficking. This year, CalGuard expanded its Counterdrug Task Force to nearly 400 members, seizing over 62,000 pounds of fentanyl in 2023.

This initiative builds upon existing efforts to stop the flow of illegal firearms and cash into Mexico, supporting the fight against cartel-linked violence. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms indicates that a significant percentage of firearms recovered in Mexico originated in the U.S., contributing to rising violence.

The Governor also announced that California will seek a military partnership with Mexico through the federal State Partnership Program to further strengthen security cooperation across North America.

Bigger Picture

The effort aligns with ongoing discussions between Governor Newsom, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials, and high-ranking Mexican officials. Governor Newsom recently attended the inauguration of Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and met with Baja Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda to discuss priorities and strengthen U.S.-Mexico relations.